Star Profile
Michael Stout, M.D., of Doctors Care
By John Temple Ligon
 

Mike Stout grew up in Rhode Island. In 1968, he graduated from Boston College (cum laude) with a BA in mathematics. A month after college graduation, the local draft board sent Stout greetings. He was sent to Ft. Dix, NJ, for basic training and to Ft. Polk, LA, for advanced training in the infantry. After a tour of duty with the First Air Calvary Division in South Vietnam, Stout was out in 1970.

At 30 years of age in 1975, Mike Stout had been a middle school science teacher for five years. His income stream was wanting and his personality was looking for a better fit. His family agreed he should move on if he could. He and his wife, Polly, had two daughters, ages two and four.

 Most medical school admissions policies frustrated 30–year– olds, but Stout did well in the prerequisites, particularly organic chemistry, and he had his master’s degree in science teaching from the University of Rhode Island. Counting his academic record, his military service, and his reputation as a teacher and as a citizen, Stout was accepted to medical school at Brown University in Providence. He worked his way toward a three–year residency in emergency medicine, which he completed at Richland Memorial in 1983.

From 1983 until 1992, Stout was a medical director for Doctors Care, a primary and urgent care facility – actually, a growing chain of facilities.

He moved up to the position of chief medical officer in 1997. For five years he was executive vice president of Doctors Care’s parent company, UCI Medical Affiliates, Inc. Since 1992, he has been their president and chief executive officer.

UCI is a shareholder–owned corporation with almost 10 million shares outstanding. The stock symbol is UCIA.OB, and shares are available on the “pink sheets,” a quotation service that provides bid and ask prices and the market maker’s name. Other times the stock service is called the “bulletin board.” If the stock holds its value or continues to climb, UCI is likely to be listed on an exchange like the Amex.

On February 14, the stock price was $3.50, while almost four years ago it was $0.15 a share. If $1,000 were put into UCI in 2002 at $0.15 a share, disregarding dividends, there would be well over $23,000 in value today.

Number two in command is CPA Jerry Wells, who was appointed chief financial officer when Stout became CEO.

This year is the 25th anniversary for UCI. With both Doctors Care and its Progressive Physical Therapy, UCI has 44 locations throughout SC and one in Knoxville, TN. BlueCross/ BlueShield of SC has been a stalwart supporter in growth and development, helping out at critical times with financing and with participation on the board of directors.

Last year UCI brought in more than $50 million in revenues. Almost 700 employees work there. Headquarters, Stout’s office, is above Doctors Care at 4416 Forest Drive, next to the Columbia Athletic Club and across the street from Forest Lake Travel.

Doctors Care’s fees are competitive in that insurance fee schedules holds the prices for all care providers. Hospital emergency rooms, however, are far more expensive, and Doctors Care sees patients who previously went to emergency rooms. The ease and efficiency of driving into a Doctors Care free parking lot at a convenient neighborhood location has obvious advantages over a hospital location. They do both walk–in care and appointments. They have 15 physical therapy offices situated within their buildings. Also, last year Doctors Care opened a small pediatric practice and an orthopedic practice.

Doctors Care is open seven days a week and usually from eight in the morning until eight in the evening. The only days they are not open are Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Stout enjoys his work, but he misses the direct patient care where he began his career in medicine. He’s a corporate CEO. He can, though, ensure every visitor to Doctors Care receives the same level of quality he learned to give.

Michael Stout, M.D.